Lexical Summary
sarak: To hiss, to whistle
Original Word:סָרֵךְ
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:carek
Pronunciation:sah-rak'
Phonetic Spelling:(saw-rake')
KJV: president
NASB:commissioners
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) of foreign origin]
1. an emir
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
president
(Aramaic) of foreign origin; an emir -- president.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) probably of foreign origin
Definitionchief, overseer
NASB Translationcommissioners (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (
id. (=Biblical Hebrew ); etymology dubious; probably with Bev
Dn Dr
Dn Andr
M 75*, loan-word from Persian
s¹r (and *
sarak ?),
head, chief); — plural absolute
Daniel 6:3, emphatic
Daniel 6:4;
Daniel 6:5;
Daniel 6:7, construct
Daniel 6:8.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and FunctionThe term סָרֵךְ denotes a senior civil officer who stands between the king and the provincial satraps. In Daniel the word is rendered “administrator” or “president” (KJV), highlighting a role that combines executive oversight, fiscal accountability, and judicial authority.
Occurrences in Scripture
•Daniel 6:2 – “So the king appointed three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel, to whom these satraps were to give an account so that the king would not suffer loss.”
•Daniel 6:3 – “Soon Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps, because an extraordinary spirit was in him.”
•Daniel 6:4 – “The administrators and satraps sought to find a charge against Daniel regarding his kingdom duties, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy.”
•Daniel 6:6 – “Then the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, ‘May King Darius live forever!’ ”
•Daniel 6:7 – “All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should issue an edict…”
These five verses establish the סָרֵךְ as a pivotal actor throughout the entire narrative arc ofDaniel 6.
Historical Setting
Under Medo-Persian rule, the empire was divided into satrapies, each answerable to the throne. To prevent rebellion and financial corruption, a smaller cadre of high officials—the סָרְכִין—was placed over the satraps. Classical sources describe comparable positions such as the “eyes of the king,” emphasizing surveillance, taxation, and loyalty. The biblical portrayal aligns with extrabiblical records, underscoring Scripture’s historical reliability.
Contrast Between Daniel and His Peers
The dual emphasis inDaniel 6 on competence (“extraordinary spirit”) and blamelessness (“no charge or corruption”) presents Daniel as the ideal סָרֵךְ. His colleagues, by contrast, misuse their authority to conspire against him. This juxtaposition embodies the broader biblical theme that righteousness ultimately exposes and overcomes political intrigue.
Theological Themes
1. Divine Sovereignty over Human Government – The rise of Daniel to the top administrative post displays the principle articulated inDaniel 2:21 that God “removes kings and establishes them.” Human bureaucracy does not hinder His purposes.
2. Integrity in Secular Vocation – Daniel’s fidelity demonstrates that godliness and governmental service are not mutually exclusive. Compare Joseph inGenesis 41 and Mordecai inEsther 10.
3. Persecution of the Faithful – The plot fashioned by the other administrators foreshadows the repeated biblical pattern of righteous sufferers, reaching its climax in Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:3-4).
Ministry Significance
• Christian leaders can learn from Daniel’s balance of professional excellence and spiritual devotion; excellence invites influence, devotion preserves integrity.
• The passage encourages believers involved in public service to view their positions as divine callings, stewarding authority for the common good (Romans 13:1-4).
• Congregations should pray for modern “administrators” that they might emulate Daniel’s faithfulness (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Practical Applications
• Accountability structures—Daniel reported to Darius, and the satraps reported to Daniel—illustrate the biblical wisdom of checks and balances. Churches and ministries likewise benefit from transparent oversight.
• Crisis reveals character. When the decree forbidding prayer was signed (Daniel 6:10), Daniel’s first response was worship, not self-promotion. Believers facing workplace pressure today can echo his pattern of quiet, consistent faithfulness.
• The miraculous deliverance from the lion’s den vindicated not only Daniel but also the office he represented, reminding Christians that God can vindicate His servants without overthrowing legitimate institutions.
Eschatological Foreshadowing
Daniel’s exemplary administration anticipates the perfect governance of the Messiah, “the Prince of Peace,” whose kingdom will know no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). Earthly סָרְכִין, whether righteous or corrupt, ultimately point forward to the One who will reign in perfect justice and righteousness.
Forms and Transliterations
סָֽרְכַיָּ֜א סָרְכִ֣ין סָרְכֵ֣י סָרְכַיָּ֖א סָרְכַיָּ֤א סרכי סרכיא סרכין sā·rə·ḵay·yā sā·rə·ḵê sā·rə·ḵîn sarechaiYa sareChei sareChin sārəḵayyā sārəḵê sārəḵîn
Links
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Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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